Print storage unit for data recording systems

ABSTRACT

A print storage unit (PSU) for providing a visual read-out and a hard copy print-out of the contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid is energized by an operator striking a key on a keyboard. Energization of the solenoid activates an arm which simultaneously causes withdrawal of a detent from a display wheel and engagement of a pick-up wheel with a rotating power roll to enable a drive means to rotate the display wheel and a print wheel, which are in mesh engagement, until an electric signal from the keyboard is compared with a display wheel signal found on a commutator segment, after which the solenoid is deenergized to release the arm to simultaneously disengage the pick-up wheel from the power roll and engage the detent with the display wheel to lock the display wheel and print wheel into a stationary position, the display wheel exhibiting the selected character and the print wheel then being engaged by a platen to record the selected character on a suitable medium.

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Attorney-Leo C. Krazinski [57] ABSTRACT A print storage unit (PSU) for providing a visual read-out and a hard copy print-out of the contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid is energized by an operator striking a key on a keyboard. Energization of the solenoid activates an arm which simultaneously causes withdrawal of a detent from a display wheel and engagement of a pick-up wheel with a rotating power roll to enable a drive means to rotate the display wheel'and a print wheel, which are in mesh engagement, until an electric signal from the keyboard is compared with a dis play wheel signal found on a commutator segment, afier which the solenoid is deenergized to release the arm to simultaneously disengage the pick-up wheel from the power roll and engage the detent with the display wheel to lock the display wheel and print wheel into a stationary position, the display wheel exhibiting the selected character and the print wheel then being engaged by a platen to record the selected character on a suitable medium.

RECORDING SYSTEMS Inventor: William A. Seabury, III, Ulster Park, NY.

Assignee: Variialb, 1nc., Old Greenwich, Conn.

Filed: Feb. 25, 1970 Appl. No.: 14,152

US. Cl. C, 197/18 Int. Cl. l/40 101/93 C, 93 R, 94, 95; l97/l8, l6, 12

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States atent Seabury, III

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WILLIAM A. SEABURYm BY ATTORNEY FIG. 2

PRINT STORAGE UNIT FOR DATA RECORDING SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to print storage units for use in data recording systems and, more particularly, to a more simplified and improved print storage unit having a four bar linkage for performing two functions simultaneously, that is, unlocks and engages a gear train to a power roll to permit rotation of a display wheel and print wheel and then at a selected moment simultaneously locks and disengages the gear train from the power roll to stop the display wheel and print wheel at a selected position.

2. The Prior Art Heretofore, print storage units have been devised which accomplish substantially the same result but with more complex mechanism, as in U.S. Pats. No. 2,796,830 and No. 3,092,020.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a print storage unit which is simple, reliable and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a unit which is readily replaceable as a simple unitary structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a unit which utilizes a gear train for interconnecting the display wheel and print wheel whereby both wheels are indexed simultaneously.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing a print storage unit for a data recording system which unit comprises a pickup wheel adapted to be driven by a motor driven power roll, the pickup wheel being connected by a gear train to a display wheel and a print wheel and being rotatably mounted upon a spring biased arm that is pivotally mounted and connected to a solenoid plunger, so that when the solenoid is energized, the arm is activated to simultaneously withdraw a detent from the display wheel and engage the pickup wheel with the revolving power roll to rotate the gear train. Upon release of the solenoid the spring biased arm and the pickup wheel are retracted to their original positions and simultaneously the detent locks the display wheel and print wheels through the gear train in the selected positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a print storage unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a blown-up perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conductive disc with brushes adapted to contact a commutator of the unit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a print storage unit is shown which comprises a frame on which a printed wiring board 11 is attached. A commutator 12 comprising an inner ring 13 and a plurality of segments 14, spaced concentrically around the inner ring 13, is mounted, preferably printed, on the board 11. At the center of the commutator 12 is shown a stub shaft 16, in turn mounted on the frame 10, for pivotally carrying a display wheel assembly 17, which comprises a display wheel 18 (hollow drum) to which is attached a conductive contact disc 19 (FIGS. 1 & 3) having a pair of brushes 21 and 22, which are bifurcated for reliability. The brushes 21, 22 have a definite positional relationship with characters 23 that are printed on the periphery of the display wheel 18, brush 21 being adapted to rotate in contact with the inner ring 13 and brush 22 in contact with the segments 14. The commutator 12 is preferably hard gold plated in order to provide for resistance to wear, as well as low contact resistance and for its noncorrosive quality.

In the display wheel assembly 17 is also included a toothed wheel or pinion 24 rigidly secured to the display wheel 18, or preferably molded integrally with the wheel 18. The number of teeth on the pinion 24 will correspond with the number of positions to which the display wheel 18 may be indexed, twelve teeth being shown for the present embodiment. The pinion 24 and display wheel 18 are rotatably carried on the shaft 16 and pinion 24 meshes with an idler gear 26 which in turn meshes with a pickup gear 27 rigidly secured to a pickup wheel 28. Display wheel pinion 24 also meshes with an idler gear 29 having a stub shaft 30 rotatably mounted on a hollow stub shaft 31 secured to the frame 10. The idler gear 29 is adapted to mesh with a gear 32 rigidly secured to a print wheel 33 having characters 34 on its periphery corresponding to those characters 23 shown on the display wheel 18, so that the characters indexed on the display wheel 18 may be printed by the print wheel 33. The print wheel gear 32 and print wheel 33 are rotatably carried by a shaft 36 mounted exteriorly of the print storage unit frame 10 and an ink wheel 37, preferably of Porlon (trademark of Johnson Wax Co.), which is in contact with the print wheel 33, is carried by a shaft 38 which is also mounted exteriorly of the frame 10. A movable platen 39 is adapted to engage the print wheel 37 and imprint upon a suitable medium, such as a tape or card (not shown), between the print wheel 33 and platen 39 the indexed characters 34.

The pickup wheel 28 is preferably made of nylatron and its periphery is provided with serrations 41 for better engagement with a power roll 42 covered preferably with polyurethane. In normal operation a gap is present between the power roll and the pickup wheel 28 and contact therebetween is only made when it is desired to index the display wheel 18 and, in turn, the print wheel 33. The idler gear 26 is provided with a stub shaft 43 which is journaled in a hollow stub shaft 44 provided on the frame 10, the hollow stub shaft 44 being in turn journaled in a sleeve 46 mounted at the upper end of a movable arm 47. It will be noted that the arm 47 is pivotally carried by the hollow shaft 44 for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. At its upper end the arm 47 includes a lateral extension 48 which has a stub shaft 49 mounted thereon on which the pickup wheel 28 and gear 27 are journaled. As shown, the stub shaft 49 is provided with an annular recess 51 for disposition thereon of a resilient retaining ring 52 for securing the pickup gear 27 and pickup wheel 28 to the shaft 49, as is conventional in such assemblies.

Near the lower end of the arm 47 is shown a T-shaped cross bar 53 having openings at its T-portion for pivotal mounting on a transverse pin 53a rigidly secured to the arm 47. Adjacent its free end the cross bar 53 has a transverse pin 54 rigidly secured thereto for pivotally supporting a detent 56 having at the latters upper end a tooth 57 that normally meshes with the display pinion 24 to lock the pinion 24 in position. Adjacent its lower end the detent 56 has a transverse stub shaft 58, as a fulcrum, which shaft is journaled in a hollow stub shaft 59 on the frame 10. Adjacent its lower end the arm 47 has a transverse pin 61 upon which is pivotally mounted a transverse arm or solenoid plunger 62 that is slidable in a solenoid coil 63 having a core 64 mounted on the frame 10. The lower end 66 of the arm 47 is bent at about and is formed with an opening 67 for terminating one end of a spring 68 th'ereto while the other end of the spring is fastened to an extension 69 of the frame 10 to normally urge the lower end of the arm 47 to the left, as viewed in the drawings.

In conventional practice several print storage units are employed in a data recording system and since we are only concerned with the mechanism of the print storage unit, its operation will be directed for the most part to this one unit. Accordingly, when a key (not shown) is punched by an operator to select a particular character, that is, to index the display wheel 18, the solenoid coil 63 is energized, in a well known conventional circuit, and attracts the plunger 62, so that the plungers inner face 71 is attracted to abut the inner face 72 of the core 64. Since the core 64 is fixed to the frame and since the plunger 62 is pivotally mounted on the arm 47, the arm 47 is pulled to the right, as viewed in the drawings, on its upper pivotal connection 44, 46 and the spring 68 is stretched. Crossbar 53 on arm 47 is also moved to the right, as viewed in the drawings, which crossbar movement causes the upper end of the detent 56 to move to the left, as viewed in the drawings, on its pivotal connection 58,59, whereby the detent tooth 57 is withdrawn from the display gear 24 to permit free rotation of the gear train. At the same time, the upper end of the arm 47 has moved to the left, as viewed in the drawings, with its pickup wheel 28 to have the latter engage the rotating power roll 42 and thereby cause rotation of the gear train including idler gear 26, unlocked display gear 24 with display wheel 18, idler gear 29 and print gear 32 with print wheel 33. To position the display wheel 18 with the selected character 34, an electrical signal is placed on the inner ring 13 of the commutator 12 by brush 21, as is conventional in data recording systems, so that as the display wheel 18 revolves, the segments 14 in the outer ring of the commutator 12 are sequentially energized by brush 22. The segments 14 are compared to the contents of some storage device, such as a switch bank, flip flop register or the like (not shown) and, when brush 22 contacts the desired segment, the solenoid 63 is deenergized, the spring 68 retracts the arm 47 to its normal position and the detent tooth 57 on detent arm 56 meshes with the display gear 24 to lock the display wheel 18 in the character selected position. Assuming that the character 34 selected on the display wheel 18 is number 4, then the same number 4 will appear on the print wheel 33 and this number 4 will be printed on a tape (not shown) upon movement of the platen 39, which has a urethane pad 73 thereon, into engagement with character 34 of the print wheel 33. The arm 47 having been returned to its original position and the pickup wheel 28 separated from the power roll 42, the print storage unit will then be ready for its next operation, as heretofore explained.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a simplified, improved print storage unit which eliminates the difficulties of clutches of the prior units, is resilient in its action, and mechanically has a four bar linkage, frame 10, arm 47, crossbar 53 and detent 56, that performs two functions simultaneously, that is, engages the power drive for rotating the gear train 27,26,24,30,32 and at the same time detents the display wheel 18.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising, in combination, a frame, an arm pivotally carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel adapted to engage said power roll carried by said arm, a pinion attached to said pickup wheel, means including a detent pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a gear train carried by said frame, a print wheel responsive to operation of said gear train, said detent being in mesh engagement with said gear train, and electromechanical means connected to said spring biased arm, whereby upon energization of said electromechanical means said arm is actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and cause said detent to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and whereby upon deenergization of said electromechanical means said arm is retracted to its initial position to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train in a selected position.

2. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to a display wheel.

3. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said gear train.

4. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said display pinion.

5. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said detent means includes a crossbar having one end pivotally carried by said arm and wherein an end portion of said detent opposite said detent tooth is pivotally carried by a free end of said crossbar.

6. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said detent means includes a stub shaft adjacent said detent end portion pivotally carried by said frame.

7. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein said electromechanical means includes a solenoid carried by said frame and a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm.

8. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to said print wheel.

9. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes an idler gear carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh engagement with said pickup pinion and said display pinion.

10. A print storage unit in accordance with'claim 7, wherein said electromechanical means includes a commutator having a central ring and a plurality of segments disposed around the ring, said commutator being carried by said frame, and a pair of brushes carried by said display wheel in contact with said ring and segments.

1 1. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes a second idler gear carried by said frame, said second idler gear being in mesh engagement with said display pinion and said print pinion.

12. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising a frame, a movable arm carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, a detent having one end pivotally connected to another end of said crossbar and having an intermediate portion axially carried by said frame, a display wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a display gear rigidly secured to said display wheel, a tooth at a free end of said detent for meshing with said display gear to lock the display wheel in a stationary position, an idler gear rotatably carried by said arm, a pickup gear rotatably carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh with said display gear and pickup gear, a pickup wheel rigidly secured to said pickup gear and adapted to be moved into contact with said rotating power roll upon movement of said arm, a print wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a print gear rigidly secured to said print wheel, an idler gear in mesh engagement with said print gear and said display gear rotatably mounted upon said frame, a solenoid carried by said frame, said solenoid when energized being adapted to attract said plunger whereby said arm is actuated to disengage said detent tooth from said display gear to unlock said display wheel and simultaneously move said pickup wheel into contact with said rotating power roll whereby said pickup gear, idler gears, display and print gears are rotated by said power roll.

13. In a print storage unit for providing a visual indicator and a printed record of contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid controls movement of a gear train driving a display wheel and print wheel and driven by a rotating power roll, the combination with said solenoid, gear train, display wheel, print wheel and power roll; of a frame, a movable arm pivotally carried by said frame and connected to said solenoid, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel carried by said arm and connected to said gear train, said pickup wheel being normally disengaged from said power roll by said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, and a detent having a tooth at a free end in mesh with a gear of said gear train and having another end pivotally connected to said crossbar, said spring biased arm upon energization of said solenoid being actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and disen- 

1. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising, in combination, a frame, an arm pivotally carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel adapted to engage said power roll carried by said arm, a pinion attached to said pickup wheel, means including a detent pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a gear train carried by said frame, a print wheel responsive to operation of said gear train, said detent being in mesh engagement with said gear train, and electromechanical means connected to said spring biased arm, whereby upon energization of said electromechanical means said arm is actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and cause said detent to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and whereby upon deenergization of said electromechanical means said arm is retracted to its initial position to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train in a selected position.
 2. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to a display wheel.
 3. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said gear train.
 4. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said detent includes a tooth for mesh engagement with said display pinion.
 5. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said detent means includes a crossbar having one end pivotally carried by said arm and wherein an end portion of said detent opposite said detent tooth is pivotally carried by a free end of said crossbar.
 6. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said detent means includes a stub shaft adjacent said detent end portion pivotally carried by said frame.
 7. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein said electromechanical means includes a solenoid carried by said frame and a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm.
 8. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said gear train includes a pinion rigidly connected to said print wheel.
 9. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes an idler gear carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh engagement with said pickup pinion and said display pinion.
 10. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said electromechanical means includes a commutator having a central ring and a plurality of segments disposed around the ring, said commutator being carried by said frame, and a pair of brushes carried by said display wheel in contact with said ring and segments.
 11. A print storage unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gear train includes a second idler gear carried by said frame, said second idler gear being in mesh engagement with said display pinion aNd said print pinion.
 12. A print storage unit of the type described for a data recording system having a rotating power roll comprising a frame, a movable arm carried by said frame, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a solenoid plunger pivotally connected to said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, a detent having one end pivotally connected to another end of said crossbar and having an intermediate portion axially carried by said frame, a display wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a display gear rigidly secured to said display wheel, a tooth at a free end of said detent for meshing with said display gear to lock the display wheel in a stationary position, an idler gear rotatably carried by said arm, a pickup gear rotatably carried by said arm, said idler gear being in mesh with said display gear and pickup gear, a pickup wheel rigidly secured to said pickup gear and adapted to be moved into contact with said rotating power roll upon movement of said arm, a print wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a print gear rigidly secured to said print wheel, an idler gear in mesh engagement with said print gear and said display gear rotatably mounted upon said frame, a solenoid carried by said frame, said solenoid when energized being adapted to attract said plunger whereby said arm is actuated to disengage said detent tooth from said display gear to unlock said display wheel and simultaneously move said pickup wheel into contact with said rotating power roll whereby said pickup gear, idler gears, display and print gears are rotated by said power roll.
 13. In a print storage unit for providing a visual indicator and a printed record of contents of an electronic memory wherein a solenoid controls movement of a gear train driving a display wheel and print wheel and driven by a rotating power roll, the combination with said solenoid, gear train, display wheel, print wheel and power roll; of a frame, a movable arm pivotally carried by said frame and connected to said solenoid, a spring attached at one end to said frame and at its other end to said arm for biasing said arm, a pickup wheel carried by said arm and connected to said gear train, said pickup wheel being normally disengaged from said power roll by said spring biased arm, a crossbar pivotally connected at one end to said spring biased arm, and a detent having a tooth at a free end in mesh with a gear of said gear train and having another end pivotally connected to said crossbar, said spring biased arm upon energization of said solenoid being actuated to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to engage said power roll and disengage said detent tooth from said gear to unlock said gear train to permit rotation thereof by said power roll, and said arm upon deenergization of said solenoid being retracted to its initial position by said spring to simultaneously cause said pickup wheel to be disengaged from the power roll and cause the detent to lock the gear train, including the display wheel and print wheel in a selected position. 